Nancy C. Balint, 79, of Belleville, IL, born December 24, 1943, in Davenport, IA, entered eternal rest Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at Addington Place in Collinsville, IL.
Nancy spent time in the School Sisters of Notre Dame order and earned her master’s degree in education. She taught for 37 years, including kindergarten, first and second grades. During her teaching years, she was most proud of having taught over 1,000 children to read.
Nancy volunteered at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Lourdes, France, for 20 summers. She studied French and Italian and used her language skills as the Hospitality and Spirituality Director. After working at Lourdes, she took an interest in working with healing groups. She was an avid traveler and spent time in Luxembourg, Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, and Italy. Besides travel, one of her hobbies was cake decorating. She was a huge Cardinals and sports fan. She loved casinos and never passed up buying a raffle ticket. As her health declined, she loved watching game shows and sports channels and was well versed in politics and international events. She was a lifelong giver, who was extremely generous and had a heart of gold. She truly was a woman of faith and immensely proud of her Catholic heritage.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Catherine, nee Thill, Balint; a sister-in-law, Susan Balint; a brother-in-law, Ronald Leasburg; and two great-nephews, Nathaniel Lucarelli and Cameron Schrage.
Surviving are three sisters and a brother, Mary Anne (Ron) Lucarelli, Bill Balint, Therese Leasburg, and Celia Mullikin; nieces and nephews, Dr. Mark (Heidi) Lucarelli, Dr. Mike (Karen Conner) Lucarelli, Lisa (Marcel) Schrage, Shawn, David, and John Balint, Damon Veremakis, Jason, J.D. (Liz) Mullikin, Jenny (Kevin) O’Shaughnessy, Ph.D. , and Lauren Mullikin; great-nieces and great-nephews, Dr. Katherine, Rebecca, DPT and Benjamin Lucarelli, Evan, Lindsey and Justin Schrage, Leah Grace Balint and RitaLee Mullikin; many special friends: Sandy Fahrner, Caroline Thompson, Joanne Syzdek, Beverly Snedeker and Benoit Lembert; caregivers: Nicole Mann (OK), Shontae, Dee, Camara and Dairee. Gratitude is extended to Lisa Schrage, Nancy’s special caregiver these past years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Make a Wish Foundation, Poor Clare Monastery, or Vitae Foundation.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, November 20, 2023, at St. Henry Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, November 20, 2023, at St. Henry Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Rev. Kenneth York officiating.
Burial will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL.